Polling Officials play a crucial role in an election. The Polling Official must not disclose any election or voting information and must, at all times, be a responsible representative of the Electoral Commission of Queensland. There are two types of Polling Official:

1. Ordinary Vote Issuing Officer

The duties of the Ordinary Vote Issuing Officer are to:

• count and record the number of all unused ballot papers

• determine the eligibility of ordinary voters

• direct absent and unenrolled voters to the Declaration Vote Issuing Officers

• put a mark against each voter’s name on the Certified List

• issue each voter their ballot paper

• direct each voter to an available voting screen

• make entries in the Election Journal when a voter provides information about non-voting or minor corrections to the roll

• ask voters to complete an Enrolment Form if their enrolment details have changed

• balance the used, unused and spoilt ballot papers and insert the total used ballot papers on a roll-scanning reconciliation sheet

• sign the Certified List

• start close of polling work, such as dismantling equipment

• assist with counting of ordinary ballot papers

• help pack up materials.

2. Declaration Vote Issuing Officer

In certain circumstances, a voter is required to make a declaration before he or she can vote. This is required when:

• a voter is absent from their district on polling day and attends a polling place in a different district

• a voter’s name cannot be found on the Certified List, and it appears that this is due to an official error

• a mark has already been made against the voter’s name on the Certified List, indicating he or she has already voted

• an Issuing Officer suspects a person is not the person he or she claims to be.

The main duties of a Declaration Vote Issuing Officer are to:

• count and record the number of unused ballot papers received

• determine whether a voter is eligible to obtain an absent or unenrolled vote

• find the correct district of a Declaration Voter

• fill in some of the details on declaration forms

• issue ballot papers to absent and unenrolled voters

• direct voters to available declaration voting screens

• make entries in the Election Journal when a voter provides information about non-voting or minor corrections to the roll

• ask voters to complete an Enrolment Form if their enrolment details have changed

• make a record of all the printed and blank ballot papers allocated on the day, as well as the declaration votes issued

• sort and bundle declaration envelopes when polling closes

• help pack up materials.

If you are interested in applying to this position, please here.

For more information, view a copy of the Polling Day - Ordinary Votes.